Time switch



Sept 14, 1937. A. BUTTNER 2,092,906

TIME SWITCH Filed NOV. 1.6, 1955 INVENTOR ARNOLD BUTTUEE.

ATTO R N EY Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanically operated time switches, and it vhas for its particular purpose to provide a time clock especially for closing and breaking the circuit for the electric light in stairhalls, vestibules, and like places.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement to the effect that two co-operating circuits, while fully applied during certain hours, will be broken at all other times.

t is obvious that the invention may also successfully be utilized for numerous other purposes, as, for instance, in connection with electrically operated cooking utensils, where a certain amount of current is necessary until the boiling point is reached, when a fraction of the current will be suiiicient for the continuous boiling.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all views, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my invention. The dial may in this instance be considered transparent.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows part of the wiring system, not visible in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is another transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 4 4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 in Figure 1, through the connecting brush; While Figure 6 is an elevational view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I5 indicates a dial, in this instance preferably transparent in order to clearly expose to sight the relative arrangement of the parts behind the same. Said dial has two scales, one of these, the outer one I6, being a 24 hours scale, or rather two 12 hours scales symmetrically arranged with respect to the horizontal center-line, and wherein the upper numeral I 2 represents the midnight, while the lower numeral I2 indicates noon. A single pointer Il is adapted to co-operate with said scales, turning around once in 24 hours. An inner ordinary 12 hours scale I8, as shown, is adapted for co-operation wtih two hands of the common type; the one of these I9 being an hourly hand, while the other one is a minute hand.

'I'he dial is further provided with two half annular slots 2| and 22, adapted to co-operate with two adjustable shutters 26 and 2l pivotally arranged on a main axis or sha-ft the said shutters having attached thereto pointed, inwardly projecting endpieces 23 and 24 extending through said slots.

Pivotally arranged on the axis 25, is further a third member, or arm, 28, onto which is secured a contact brush 29, in this case formed as a spring member, as may especially be seen in the Figures 5 and 6.

The three members 26, 2l, and 28 are preferably made of bakelite, or any other non-conducting material, of sufficient strength.

As will be seen from the drawing, the edge portions 30 and 3| of the adjustable shutters 26 and 2l are in line with the pointed exposed iingers 23 and 24 of the same. While the Contact points 32 and 33 of the spring member lines up with the longitudinal axis of the pointer Il, following the latter on its turn around, the arm to which the Contact brush is secured forms an integral part of said pointer.

When the hand Il passes the point 23, the desired time for turning on the light, the contact point 33, which so far has been wiping along the adjustable shutters non-conducting surfaces, will pass the edge 30, and by the spring action, Contact two metal rings 35 and 34, secured to the base 36, and representing the wires for two independent circuits, connecting them to the single positive wire formed here as a metal ring 31 extended above the two former rings, and by wires or metal strips 38 connected to the switch 39.

Current will be supplied to the two separate series until a certain prearranged time, 10 P. M., is reached; as will be noted from the drawing, the ring or track 35 is here broken olf, and naturally the current will then be discontinued for the series connected to the latter, and remain so until the pointer reaches 3 A. M., when the circuit again will be closed until 6 A. M., at which time both circuits are broken.

While the outer ring 35 here is broken off at the two points, mentioned before, it is obvious this ring member may be made continuous and be manipulated by means similar to the adjustable shutters 26 and 21.

The switch 39 consists of a circular disk member 40, of a non-conducting material, secured to an axis 4I, which again is provided with an ordinary operating knob 42. Said disk member is made with four circular cut-out portions 43, 44, 45, and 46, symmetrically arranged about the central axis lll In two of said openings, located opposite to each other, metal studs 41 and 48 are inserted, serving as connecting members between the upper one 49 of the three radially arranged 5 contact points 439, 5I), and 5i, and the positive pole 51B. Said connection is obtained by the means of a metal plate 52 secured to the backside of the bakelite' base 36 and so arranged that the one end of said studs always will contact the plate;

metal strips or wires serve as a connecting means to the pole 5d.

The three Contact points 49, 50, and 5l are, as will be seen, arranged to cooperate with the cut-out portions in the disk member, sothat l5 if the clock-work 55, here only shown in outline, should fail to operate another circuit may be closed merely by turning the switch 39, 90 degrees connecting the two points Ell and 5i, thus creating a new circuit operating independently of the clock.

The latter may be of any ordinary make, electrically or mechanically operated.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a device of the class described, a base, an

axle mounted upon the latter, two shutters pivotally arranged upon said axle, a pointer turnably secured to the latter, an arm integrally fastened to said pointer, a connecting brush solidly attached to said arm, three ring-formed members constituting connecting points for two electric circuits, adapted to be independently controlled, a dial secured to the base, two differently featured scales upon said dial, and two hands cooperating with one of said scales.

2. In a ,device of the class described, a base, an axle mounted upon the latter, two shutters pivotally arranged upon said axle and being each provided with a finger, a pointer turnably secured to the axle, an arm integrally fastened to said pointer, a connecting brush solidly attached to said arm, three ring-formed members constituting connecting points for two independently operating circuits, and being arranged two upon the base and one extending above said base and secured to the latter, the outer one of said two ring members being broken off in part, whereby to break one series at a predetermined time, a dial secured to the base, two diiferently featured scales upon the dial, one a 24 hours scale, and one a 12 hours scale, hands mounted upon the axle, the pointer being adapted for co-operation with the 24 hours scale, and said hands with the 12 hours scale.

3. In a device of the class described, a base, an axle mounted upon the latter, two shutters pivotally arranged upon said axle and being each provided with fingers, a pointer turnably secured to the axle, an arm integrally fastened to said pointer, a connecting brush solidly attached to said arm, three ring-formed members constituting connecting points for two independently operating circuits, a dial secured to the base and having annular slots therein adapted to turnably receive said iingers, two differently featured scales upon the dial one a 24 hours scale, andthe other a l2 hours scale, hands mounted upon the axle, `the pointer being adapted for co-operation with the 24 hours scale, and the said hands with the 12 hours scale, substantially as shown and described,

ARNOLD BUT'INER. 

